Ben-Gvir Seeks to Disqualify Arab Party Leader Mansour Abbas from Knesset

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, representing the Otzma Yehudit party, has submitted a request to the Central Elections Committee to disqualify the Ra'am party and its leader, MK Mansour Abbas, from participating in the upcoming 26th Knesset elections. The 39-page petition, filed by attorneys Ze'ev Woolf and David Bavli, argues that Ra'am denies Israel's existence as a Jewish state and supports armed conflict against it by enemy states and terror organizations. Central to the new evidence is a report from the Registrar of Associations concerning the "Aid 48" organization, which the petition claims is directly linked to Ra'am and details "money transfers and cooperation with terror groups." The request also highlights direct ties between Ra'am, the Southern Islamic Movement, affiliated associations, and an ideological link to the Muslim Brotherhood.

The petition contends that past Supreme Court rulings have allowed individuals supporting "resistance" (a euphemism for fighting Israel) during the October 7th massacre to run for Knesset due to a lack of sufficient evidence. It cites the case of Azmi Bishara, who supported Hamas and Hezbollah, declared that "a Palestinian state will be established on the ruins of the Jewish state," and spied for the enemy, yet was repeatedly protected by the Supreme Court, allowing him to serve as a Knesset member. Ben-Gvir argues that post-October 7th, the court can no longer afford such leniency towards terror-supporting parties, stating that the court is obligated to follow the law and disqualify Ra'am.

Furthermore, the petition asserts that Mansour Abbas is a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, presenting himself to Jews as "a wolf in sheep's clothing." It recalls a past Knesset exchange where Ben-Gvir warned about security agencies being lax regarding Ra'am, and Abbas responded by questioning the evidence of funds reaching terror groups. The petition claims "dozens of proofs" that Ra'am-affiliated organizations like "Aid 48" and "Humanitarian Deeds" have funded Hamas and other terror groups with millions of shekels. It also demands that the committee reveal Shin Bet and police investigations into Ra'am, Abbas, and its associated organizations.

Ben-Gvir stated, "The legislator spoke years ago, but the court ignored the law and here enabled dozens of terrorists to serve in the Knesset. The time has come to say enough! The time has come to implement the law, and disqualify the terror organization called 'Ra'am' and its leader, the Muslim Brotherhood man Mansour Abbas."